Kenya halts search of missing plane with 10 on board

A search for a small passenger plane that disappeared in Kenya on Tuesday was called off for the evening but will resume at dawn, according to aviation authorities.

The plane had taken off from Kitale, a town in Kenya’s west, en route to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital, Nairobi, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said.

It carried eight passengers and two crew members, according to a statement on the website of Fly Sax, the operator of the flight.

“Search and rescue teams were activated immediately and have no result on the missing plane as at Tuesday evening,” KCAA said.

“They however, paused the search for the night and shall resume at first light Wednesday morning.”

Capital News, a Kenyan publication, said families of those on board the ill-fated aircraft have accused airline and government officials of keeping them in the dark.

The families were called in for counseling but said there was no forthcoming information even as the search and rescue continued, mainly concentrated in the Kinangop area of the Aberdares.

Mohamed Abdi, a cousin to one of the passengers he identified as Abdi Ali, was quoted as saying: “We hear that they are looking for the aircraft and we are waiting here at the Weston Hotel. The aircraft company is not giving us enough information on the matter. We are just requesting that they give us the full information so that we can collect the bodies of our loved ones and bury them.

“We only heard that there was heavy rainfall within the Naivasha and Limuru areas so we cannot even go there. We even went to the Wilson Airport where there was no information on the incident. Others who have helicopters went to look for their people but we are just waiting here.”

Bad weather was hampering the search and rescue operation and according to the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), a National Police Service helicopter was scouring the area around the Aberdares Forest or Ndakaini where the search is concentrated, but there was poor visibility.

“Weather is a challenge to the ongoing search & rescue operation, a National Police chopper is already up in the sky but weather condition is the problem. Following the missing aircraft, National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) appeals to Members of the public to volunteer information which may lead to quick rescue and recovery,” Pius Masai, the organisation’s deputy director, said.